Women in fight in Co-op car park
00:00, 23 March 2006
updated: 09:21, 23 March 2006
TWO women ended up fighting in a supermarket car park because one couldn’t move her car, a court heard.
The two had to be separated by store staff and one, Julia Rumsey, ended up being charged with assault after pushing the other woman.
Trouble flared when Ms Rumsey couldn’t move from her space at Herne Bay’s Co-op car park because Angela Swinn had left her car doors open while she loaded her shopping last June.
Penny Rector, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court that Miss Swinn had parked close to Ms Rumsey’s car because of inadequate parking spaces.
The defendant wanted to leave and when she couldn’t do so, confronted Miss Swinn, asking her to shut the car door, which Miss Swinn said she’d do in a moment.
But Ms Rumsey didn’t wait and pushed Miss Swinn hard, causing her to fall back against the car and her sunglasses to fall off and break. The two were separated by Co-op staff.
Ms Rumsey, 26, of Victoria Park, Herne Bay, admitted common assault and was conditionally discharged for 12 months with £4 costs.
Naomi Byrd, for Rumsey, said her client pushed the other woman in a moment of frustration and annoyance when she wouldn’t close her car doors and allow her to drive off.
“Supermarket car parks bring out the worst in people. This was out of character and not the sort of behaviour that will occur again.”
Miss Byrd added: “She gave up her job at a care home because she feared her employers would find out she was charged with assault.
“Since the incident she has suffered anxiety and depression and her financial resources are limited. I ask the court to consider this entire incident the responsibility to be shared between these two women.”
Sentencing Ms Rumsey, Judge Timothy Nash said: “I am not going to say she deserved what you did to her because nobody should take the law into their own hands but I can understand your frustration at the victim’s arrogance and selfishness.
“But you should not start throwing your weight about. This is what the yobs do when coming out of the clubs in Herne Bay.”
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